A jumbo tree, in size and in looks

By Ruk Rakaganno, The Tree Society of Sri Lanka

This must be one of the easiest trees to identify because of its characteristic form. Growing to medium height (upto about 20 m), it is remarkable because of its large girth which is sometimes even double its height.

The trunk is wide at the base and buttressed and then tapers towards the top of the tree as it begins to branch out. The bark is light coloured. The leaves of the Baobab are compound and palmate. The leaflets that make up each leaf are hairy. The flowers of this tree are white, showy and pendulous. They appear in and around January. The fruits are oblong capsules with pointed ends, covered with velvety hairs and are edible.

The tree has medicinal properties. The fruits are used to make a beverage that promotes sweating and alleviates fever. They are also used to make a preparation that soothes irritated skin, cures scurvy and stomach complaints. They are also used by fisherman to make fishing floats. In India monks are said to use the dried shells of the fruit as water pots. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The bark is used to make a rope. The tree produces soft and spongy wood and in Africa the hollowed trees are used as dwellings.

The Baobab was introduced to Sri Lanka from Africa and grows well in the arid north-west coastal areas. These trees can be seen standing majestically throughout the Mannar island. The Sinhala name for the tree is Aliya gaha –referring not only to its size but also to its bark which is said to resemble the skin of an elephant. In Tamil, it is known as Papparappuli and the scientific name is Adansonia digitata.